Why Are The Rules Like This? A few days ago, one of our senior river guides gave us a heads up that he had been offered a more “normal” job, a change of career, and that he was seriously considering taking up the offer. The job comes with a reasonable salary plus a house. [...]

Will 2019 See a Return of the Duckie? It was once a regular occurrence, Duckie season. Not for the last couple of years though. Changing weather patterns with wetter summers had almost appeared to make Duckie season extinct. No more people ringing and asking whether they could book a Duckie trip but cancel it [...]

The River Valley Extended Family Ripples Have you ever thrown a small stone into a pond of clear water and watched the ripples spread outwards? Just a small stone can send those ripples out to the far reaches of the pond. None of the surface of the pond is unaffected. From time to time [...]

With the Grand Daughters on the Whanganui River I tossed and turned that night after making the offer. An offer which was immediately accepted I might add. What was that offer? What had started as a very cruisy commercial four day dory trip on the Whanganui River, with me basically offering [...]

What’s in a “Job”? Last Sunday I guided a relaxing day rafting trip on the section of the Rangitikei River we call “The Awesome Scenic Adventure”. The sun was shining, the water warm, the two families were nice people. Life was good. Did I make a fortune from being a river guide that day? [...]

Topsoil by Another Name? Christmas Eve night was wet here in Pukeokahu, east of Taihape on the central North Island of New Zealand. The rain was part of a weather pattern that had hung around for a few days. This weather pattern consisted of heat build ups during the day followed by afternoon or [...]

The Role of Corporates in the Tourism Industry What is the role of big (by New Zealand standards) corporate companies in the New Zealand Tourism scene? I think this subject needs some thinking about as we see the slow buy up and consolidation of smaller private and family owned enterprises by bigger enterprises. These [...]

Speaking from The Heart? Why is there an issue for anyone around speaking out about what is ethical and fair for people and the planet? Why by speaking out do you pick up a brand of being somehow a greenie loopy? That by speaking out, or writing about these issues you are being unrealistic, [...]

Thoughts on Using Holistic Grazing Management with a Horse Trekking Herd As I write this it is the 18th December here at Pukeokahu on the central plateau hill country of the North Island of New Zealand. This is early summer, with the long days really starting to heat up. Out on the horse pasture, [...]

So, What Is in These Names? Following last weeks blog which gave a brief history of some of the rapid names on the popular Grade 5 white water section of the Rangitikei River, I have had some feedback about my understanding of the history of those names, and some clarification on who and why [...]